Reflector unit for signs



S. C. VINCENT REFLECTOR UNIT FOR SIGNS March 14, 1933.

Filed April 4, 1930 I INVENTOR. ,JEKZx/gg? @6672;

BY I

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDNEY C. VINCENT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC LIGHT- ING COMJPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND REFLECTOR UNIT FOR SIGNS Application filed April 4,

This invention relates to reflector units for l he invention has to do with such reflectors as are used in signs wherein the units reflect the light projected upon them from, the lamps of approaching vehicles, such as automobiles, or from flood lighting sources. The unit about to be described may be said to comprise the glass, lens, cap and reflector and these have become known in the trade as buttons. They are adapted to be numerously used to form letters, designs, numerals, or in any other formation or formations as the exigencies of the case may require.

The primary object of the invention is to construct the unit or button for cooperation with a plate such as that to which the buttons are attached and by which they are ordinarily supported, in such a manner as to firmly secure the units to the plate. Another object is to so construct and arrange the lens or glass portion of the unit and the cap, that receives it, that the unit may be attached to plates of varying thicknesses, without structural change in the units.

Heretofore so far as I am aware in the construction of these reflector units or buttons, it has been customary to put the reflector in the bottom of the cap and secure the same therein by some cementitious material, and thereafter insert the lens; but with this method there is no assurance that the axial line of the lens is properly positioned relative to the reflector and when this exact centering does not occur, the reflecting quality of the buttons is impaired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a unit that may be made up in advance of use, sealed and kept in stock without deterioration of any of the interior parts of the unit.

A still further object of the invention contemplates a construction in which there is used a lock washer adapted to cooperate with the threads of the cap in such a way that when the unit is attached to a plate, the washer will form the means of firm securement of the button or unit to the plate. Furthermore, the construction of the button lends itself to convenient attachment to a socket which may 1930. Serial No. 441,644.

be properly secured to a plate, or it may be used in connection with an ordinary electric light socket, in which event it will be understood that the unit will be made larger than those units which are commonly employed to outline letters, designs, etc., upon plate signs. The button therefore, in such an instance, is made adaptable for taking the place of the ordinary electric bulb in signs where bulbs are, or may have been used, and Where it is desired to convert the current illuminated sign into a sign of the character about to be described. Of course when the unit is attached to an ordinary electric light socket, the wires, electric connections, etc., become unnecessary, but their presence in no way interferes with the reception of the present unit.

In the drawing illustrating the invention- Figure 1 is a face View of a sign in which the reflectors or buttons are adapted to be used, there being shown a configuration or arrangement of the buttons to denote a Stop s1gn.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the unit secured to a fragment of a sign plate, the lens or glass element being in elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a formof lock washer that may be employed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a socket comparable with an ordinary porcelain electric light socket in which the reflecting unit may be used.

, Figure 5 is asimilar View of another form of socket.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a plate which, in the construction of the sign, is provided with numerous .perforations 2 for the reception of the buttons. These perforations are of sufficient size to permit the assembled lens and cap or cup to pass through them, with the exception of the head of the lens. The lens comprises a body having a spherical or approximately spherical head 3, and a shank or reduced portion 4 having thereon, threads 5, which may be provided in any suitable number or part thereof and of any suitable pitch. The under outer edge of the head 3 forms, when the unit or button is on a plate, an annular abutment 6 the purpose of which is, in connection with a lock washer, presently to be described, to form part of the means for securing the unit upon the plate, or that part of the lens that cooperates with the washer to enable 5 the washer to function as a securing means. The lower end of the shank is reduced indiameter, as indicated at 7, thus forming an annular seat 8, for a reflector element 9, in teriorally treated to form a suitable reflector otherwise treated, so as to increase its reflecting properties, and consequently the reflecting properties of the lens, and it may be variously colored so as to change the color of the reflected rays of light. This reflector is snugly fitted upon its seat on the bottom of the shank and in any event, the idea is that the lens and reflector shall be capable of being handled as a whole. By this arrangement, the center of the reflector will be, at all times, surely in axial alinement with the the lens, thus assuring uniform reflecting qualities from all directions within the range of the reflecting capacity of the unit.

The numeral 10 designates a cap interiorally threaded as indicated at 11, for the reception of the threads on the lens. This cap or cup is screwed on the lens, with its upper edge against the under face of the head 3, and it may be said that the unit or button comprises the lens, the cap and the reflector. Interposed between the bottom of the cap and the under side of the reflector 9, there is preferably placed a suitable spring such as 12, with a constant urge to keep the reflector seated upon its seat on the lens. While I have stated that the purpose is to have a tight fit between the reflector and lens, there may be someirregularity in the molding of the lens that might interfere with the tightness of fit and hence the spring.

In this form of my invention, it differs from that shown and described in my coendin application Serial Number 366,713,

ed ay 28, 1929, which eventuated into Patent Number 1,767,160, June 24, 1930, in that, in the present instance, the unit is secured to the plate by alock washer 13, provided with threads 14 corresonding to the threads on the cap, the washer being provided at its upper edge, with a flaring flange 15, adapted, when the washer is threaded on the cap, to fit snugly against therear face of the plate 1. At suitable points on the flange, I cut out a portion of the metal and bend it down to form wings 16, presenting means for convenient engagement with the fingers in screwing the washer home against the plate.

Referring to Figure 4, the numeral 17 designates a socket which is compatible with the ordinary electric light socket, there being omitted, the usual electrical connections and 66 contacts, since, as before stated, the unit here ing surface; that is to say, it may be silvered described depends in no way current illuminated lamp. provided with the usual threads 18.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated another form of socket 19, in which the described unit may be used, and this may be secured to a suitable support 20 by means of a'central screw 21, or other suitable means.

It should be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular construction or lock washer shown, as this may be made, instead of sheet metal shown, of wire bent with a suitable number of convolutions to adapt it to follow the threads of the cap, and engage with the rear of the plate.

What I claim is:

1. A reflecting device including a lens having an abutment, a cap surrounding the lens and provided with threads, a threadedlock washer adapted to cooperate with said threads on the cap and with said abutment, whereby the lens may be secured to a suitable plate or support. a

2. A reflecting device including a lens having an abutment and also having threads on its body portion, a threadedcap adapted to envelope said body portion and coact with said body portion to secure the cap and lens together, threaded means adapted to coact with the threads on the cap to secure the lens and the cap to its support.

3.- A reflecting device including a lens having an abutment and a thread on its body 'portion and a head of greater diameter than the body portion, whereby the head is adapted for engagement with a plate, a cap surrounding the body portion of the lens and having threads coacting with the threads on the lens, whereby the cap and lens are secured together, threaded means coacting with the threads on the cap and constituting with the head of the lens means for securing the unit to a suitableplate or support.

4. A reflecting device including a lens having an abutment and a thread on its bod portion, a cap having corres onding threa s and enveloping the lens, a reflector interposed between. the lens and bottom of the cap, a lock washer having threads adapted to coact with the threads on the cap and with the head directly upon a This socket is of the lens and constituting means for securing the unit to a plate or suitable support. 5. reflecting device including a plate having an opening therethrough, a lens occupying said opening, an abutment adjacent the forward end of the lens and adapted to engage the front face of the plate adjacent the opening, a cap adapted to envelop the body of said lens, a thread on the cap, and threaded locking means adapted to coact with the thread on the cap whereby the cap and lens are secured to the plate.

6. A sign comprising a suitable plate havmg a plurality of perforations therein, a plurality of lenses, one in each perforation Eli) and provided with an abutment near its forward end adapted to engage the front face of the plate, a cap enveloping each lens and provided with a thread, a threaded washer adapted to coact with the threads of the cap, and with the abutment on the lens, whereby the units are secured to the plate, by engagement of the washer with the rear face of the plate.

7. A reflecting device including a lens having an exterior thread on its body portion, a cap having a thread coacting with the thread on the lens to secure the cap and lens together, and a reflector element between the end of the lens body, and the cap, means on the lens body cooperating with thereflector element to hold the center of said element in axial alinement with the lens, the thread on the cap being adapted, in addition to holding the lens and cap together, to enable the unit as a whole, to be threaded into 'a suitable socket.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SIDNEY C. VINCENT. 

